The Seven Devils (YA "New Adult" Romance) (23 page)

Chapter 24

I was quiet as Josh called some local friends to find the best place in town to buy a dress.

“Perfect. My friend Rebecca has an aunt who owns a private boutique. She’ll be expecting us shortly.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Doing okay?” he asked.

“Just a little nervous. I want our night to be perfect.”

Josh flagged down a cab and gave the driver the address. “Well, Maya and I had a thought about that,” Josh said slyly.

“Uh oh. Why does this sound like something I won’t like?”

Josh pulled something black and silky out of his coat pocket and I nearly died. “What is that?!”

He held it up and I realized it was a blindfold. My stomach flipped. “What am I supposed to do with a blindfold?”

Josh laughed. “Calm down. Maya said that if we bought you a dress today, Neil would know exactly how great you look in it as soon as you see him this afternoon and the surprise will be ruined for tomorrow night.”

I hadn’t thought of that. “So…”

“So you need to trust me and Rebecca’s aunt to pick the perfect dress for you.”

I laughed. “Oh my God. So even I won’t know what I’m going to be wearing?”

“Exactly.”

I considered. “But won’t Neil just be able to see the dress in your mind?”

“No, I won’t really see Neil until you both arrive at the concert. I’ll drop you off at the hotel in a while, but I have a few errands to run and then I’m heading to Maya’s house for the evening. Tomorrow I have rehearsal most of the day.”

“You know this woman’s aunt is going to think we’re freaks.”

Josh laughed. “It’s New York City. We’re all freaks here.”

***

When we arrived at the boutique Rebecca’s aunt Marie was there waiting for us. It was a small store and we were the only customers at the moment so Marie was able to personally assist us. Josh explained that it was going to be a big night for my boyfriend and me and that he wanted us both to be wowed when we saw each other and ourselves, so I wasn’t going to see my dress. I was embarrassed when he pulled out the blindfold, but Marie seemed to be an old pro and didn’t let it faze her.

She led me back to a dressing room and studied me carefully. She nodded slightly and said, “I know just what would suit you, dear. If you don’t want to see your dress, now would be the time to don your mask.”

I sat on the chair in the corner of the room and put on the mask. Marie must be good at her job; she didn’t even ask me my size. A few minutes later the door of the room opened and there was a great deal of rustling.

“I believe I’ve found just the thing,” Marie said. “Let’s get it on you.”

She had me stand and helped me out of my things and into the dress. It was definitely strapless and felt silky and soft. I hated not knowing at least what color it was. Once she had me zipped up she opened the door and allowed Josh inside.

“Marie, you’ve done it. This is the perfect dress for her.”

“Already?” I asked, completely shocked. “The first dress?”

Marie patted my back. “You’ll understand when you see it, dear. It’s as if it was made for you.”

I smiled. “So we’ll take it then?”

“Definitely,” Josh replied. “Marie, can you have it sent over to my hotel room? We still have more to do before we go back.”

“Of course, Mr. Aleksandr.”

***

“Alright, what next?” Josh asked.

“I really need to find a Christmas gift for Neil,” I said. “I just don’t know what I’m looking for.”

“Well, what does he love? What is he passionate about?”

I grinned. “Me?”

We both laughed. “I’m not sure how helpful that is since he already has you,” Josh said.

“I guess I just need to go to a really big store and look around. Is that alright?”

“Of course,” Josh said. “Macy’s it is!”

He flagged down another cab and it took us to the Macy’s on 34th Street. I couldn’t believe the size of it. It looked so grand and stately. When we got inside I didn’t even know where to start, so I just began to wander.

Josh said he had something to purchase in the jewelry department so I ended up following him there. I wandered down through the maze of brightly lit display cases full of beautiful things and thought about Neil. He was so serious and was fascinated by science and the brain. I sure wasn’t going to buy him some boring lab equipment or anything like that. I needed something more significant. Something that would mean something to him. Something that would show him how much I loved him and that I would never leave him.

I continued to walk until something jumped out and caught my eye. It was a little weird; I didn’t know anyone who had given such a gift except maybe on TV, but it just felt right. I looked over and saw Josh paying for something across the department from me. I thought about asking him his opinion, but then decided against it. This would be a private thing, just between Neil and I. I called over a saleswoman to help me out.

***

Josh brought me to a restaurant next to eat a little lunch. When we took our seats Josh took off his hat and shook out his hair a little. Almost immediately there was an audible gasp behind me. Within seconds there was a girl a little older than I am bouncing up and down next to our table.

“Oh my God! I never do this, but oh wow… Joshua Aleksandr! Can I get a picture with you!”

“Oh, of course.”

The girl whipped out her phone and the two squeezed together into the frame. She immediately squealed and thanked him profusely before returning to her seat to giggle with her friends.

“Sorry,” Josh said to me.

“Wow. I keep forgetting that you’re famous,” I said with a laugh. “Does this sort of thing happen a lot?”

“Not so much in America, but in some European countries I can barely leave my hotel room.”

“I would hate that.”

“It does get old sometimes.”

We ordered our meals and I realized I never asked if Maya was able to come to the concert tomorrow. When I asked, Josh’s face fell a little.

“She has decided not to come.”

“Decided as in she could have come but would rather not?” I asked softly.

Josh shrugged slightly. “She wants to take things really slow and feels like this concert would be too big of a step right now. She wants us to be casual.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. She’s worth waiting for.”

“I hope I can meet her soon.”

“I think you’ll love her. She’s very charismatic.”

My thigh suddenly vibrated. I grinned and whipped out my phone.

“Neil?” Josh asked and I nodded.

“Good morning!” I said, picking up the call.

“Hello, beautiful,” Neil said, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“How did you sleep?”

“So well. I feel like a new man. Where are you?”

“I don’t really know. Eating lunch somewhere.”

“Are you having a good day so far?”

“Yes, but I miss you.”

“Mmmm. I’m dying to see you Ellen. I have a request, though. Do you think you two could give me an hour? If I don’t run a few miles I feel like I’m going to explode.”

I smiled picturing him pacing around the hotel room. I knew how he got when he couldn’t burn some energy.

“Josh, can we keep ourselves busy for about an hour?”

“Of course,” Josh said.

“Fine with us,” I told Neil. “I’ll see you then.”

“I love you darling.”

“I love you too.”

***

Josh and I finished our lunches and then took off walking. He popped into a pharmacy for a moment while I watched all the people walk by outside. It was amazing how different everyone looked... so different than a place like Minster where everyone looked so similar. After that we wandered through Central Park. It was so big that I know I only saw a small section in that hour and I vowed to go back again before we left New York.

Josh walked me back to our hotel and stopped me for a moment in the lobby.

“I need to run. I’ll see you at the concert tomorrow evening. Expect a knock on your door around 4:00 tomorrow afternoon. Someone will take you up to my room and help you get ready. After that a car will take you and Neil to one of my favorite restaurants and then to my show.”

I shook my head and grinned. “I don’t know how to thank you for all this.”

Josh hugged me. “Oh Ellen. I’m just glad you two are here. You don’t know how lonely it gets playing for crowds day after day and yet not having anyone out there who is really there for you. I look forward to being on that stage and seeing you and Neil front and center. It’s all I ask for.”

I hugged him again and told him how excited I was.

Josh took my hand and placed the small bag from the pharmacy into it. “Just in case,” he said cryptically, and then he turned to leave.

I watched him walk out of the lobby and then I peeked into the bag. It was a box of condoms. I could feel all the blood rush to my face as I turned and frantically poked the elevator button. It suddenly felt as if the bag were see-through and everyone in the lobby was staring and judging me. I couldn’t get back to my room fast enough.

“Neil?” I asked as soon as I entered our room, hoping he was back from his run. I held the small box containing his Christmas gift in my hand. There was no sense in waiting another day or two to give it to him when he would know what it was as soon as he saw me… if he didn’t know already. I wasn’t sure how far his ability extended.

“I’m in the shower,” Neil said straight into my head. “Be out in a moment.”

I took off my coat and shoes. I decided it would be best to give him his gift immediately since otherwise there would be no hope of a surprise, so I stashed the box of condoms on the bedside table and then sat on the bed to wait for him. When I heard the water turn off I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach. It had only been a few hours since I’d seen him, but for some reason it felt like an eternity.

The bathroom door opened and Neil flipped off the bathroom light and fan. He was gorgeous. There’s no other word for it. His dark hair glistened with water and his whole body looked slightly damp and rosy with warmth. He was wearing nothing but a white towel strung across his hips. As my eyes traveled down his heavily muscled form I felt my body flush with desire.

I don’t even remember deciding to move, but the next thing I knew I was all over him. My hands ran through his wet hair and I pulled his head down into mine, daring him to kiss me harder. His arms enveloped me and then he lifted me up towards him and I wrapped my legs around his body. We barely paused to breathe. I was filled with such an urgent need; I just had to have him.

Neil carried me the few steps to the bed and laid me down. I sat up immediately and ripped my sweater and tank top over my head. Neil stood in front of me, probably unsure of what to do. Unsure of how far we would go this time. Before I could overanalyze it I tore off his towel.